Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-16
THE CASE OF DIR. McGLYNN.
Religious Circles stirred 70 Its Ut
nnsr Dcnths by the breach.

his name against the imputations that
were cast upon 1t there has been nothing
that has stirred religious circles TO the
extent that they are now stirred by the
breach between Archbishop Corrigan and
his brilliant subordinate, DR.. Edward
McGlynn. SO, too, there has been no
case about which SO much has been
written and about which SO little is
known.
1t Is certainly the most remarkable case
in the history of the Catholic Church in
America. Priests have left the church OF
have been driven out oft, but never under
circumstances such rs those that have
caused DR.. McGlynn TO be summoned to
Rome to answer before the College OF Car
dlnals for the course that he has adopted
IN the face OF the opposition OF the most
powerful prelete in America.
The questions that are now being asked
and which cover the whole situation are
VIII Dr.. McGlynn obey the summons OF
the Cardinal Project OF the Propaganda
aud go to Rome? W i'll he recant and
abandon Henry George, or will he give
up his pastorate and go out into the " ord
an unirocked priest?
There have been some very positive
answers made to these questions, some
right, some wrong. From my knowledge
of the man and of his feelings aud char
acteristics, feel tree in saying that at
this writing DR.. MCGiynn mas fully de-
termiBed TO stand by his CONVICTIONS and
to allow his Supporters TO enforce the dis
cipline of the church and deprive him OF
his priestly faculties.
lie may change his mind! His friends
are begging him to do so, hut they have
little confidence in their ability to alter the
decision o. the determined priest. And
50 the matter stands.
How does This priest feel who has ceen
suddenly cast down from the powerful
position that he has held? He feels bit
ter; be feels that he is i'll meshes that
enemies have been for ten years past
wedding around HIM. He feels that it is
not because Of his friendship for George
that he has been punished, but thai this
Is out subter.uge. He lee 5, too, that
there are powerful influences at work
against him at Rome, and that his case
mas been prejud2ed and settled. Tnen he
ASKS, why should ne go to Rome? 1t is
useless. Herein mis- friends say he is
mistaken, and perhaps he is, but his MI g.
take ls natural one.
DIR. McGlynn subscribes to the belief
IN the Intalhbiity OF the Pope, but be has
little faith i'll the unpeaceability of the
Cardinal. cit was coterie of Cardinals
who condemned G8lileo," ne would say,
in them STILL" Just how much this in
fuences him IN his wish to remain away
from Rome can be imagined.
Now, wherein has this priest offended
His life has been siugularly an upright
one. He has spent his fortune OF $50, 900
which he inherited in caring for tine poor
and the orphans. He has spent his
meagre salary IN the same way. He has
been frequently with but one SUIT of
clothes to wear because he had given his
others to clothe some one else. He has d =
quence that was DatchiesS in New York
lhen ne ventured to say that there should
be no ownership In land, and for dOiug
This has been disgraced. 1t may or it may
not be that he erred in judgment. | am
no political economist, and even omit d s.
cussing that, but there are good many
able Catholic priests who hold the same
opinions. And they say further tnat DR..
McGlynn has violated no doctrine OF the
church in making the ut.erances be did
Pope Leo has expressed disapprOval of
such theories, and so has Archbishop Cor
rigan, but neither Pope nor Archbishop
can make Catholic doctrine. Thai is pro-
mulgated by tue great council of the
church.
Were the theories that Dr.. Mc(flynn
holds fully and fairly discussed IN an
Ecumenical Council, and there con-
demned, he would cease to advocate
them. But 40 such thing has been done.
The fact tnat DIR. McGlyun has been
summoned TO Rome shows that the
church authorities are uncertain. had
DIR. McGlynn been SO much in error as has
been pictured Rome would simply have
unfrocked him and driven him out OF the
church. 1t mas done it with others. for
Rome Is no respecLer Of persons, and it
does not usually extend voluntarily to a
mere priest the privilege of coming 10
Rome in his own defense. Ii be fails TO
obey this summons he Will, Of course, BE-
''silenCed," but it will he for insubordira-
ton and not for subscribing TO the theo-
ries of Henry George. The article which
the latter wrote on iris case is alreadV on
its way to Rome. it is the severest blow
that has yet been directed at DR.. Me-
G!ynn, and it VIII probably decide the
the w.Ole matter and lead the Propaganda
to deal summary with DR.. McGlynn. 1t
will he held that such step will be nee
essary for the preservation OF discipline.
The sentiments OF the Catho ic Clergy
and. laity are hard to learn. IL NAV ne
said positively that the rank and ule are
heartily on the side Of the priest, aud
while q majority disagree with him on
the same question, they think at the same
time that the punishment winch be 10 re-
ceIying for his opinions sake is uncalled
for.
One of the most revered Of our Catholic
priests said to me yesterday; II disagree
win DIR. McGlynu on questions OF politi-
Cal economy, but am free to say that
mentally and morally no priest in New
York city, from Archbishop Corrigaa
down, is his superior, and / speak ed
visedly. 1t must be remembered that
Mgr. Preston has been his chief critic.
Mar. Preston is doRmatic; n mau OF a
single book and plays upon a single
spring. But be has great influence over
Archbishop Corri1an. If he had not DR..
McGlynD would not have been IN his
present position.
That IL what this priest said, and that
is just about what majority OF his ci0th
and form Of belief think.
Meanwhile DR.. McGlynn is keeping in
retirement. His tall form has bowed
somewhat and his kindly blue eyes have
look in them that they did not formerly
have. When approached he says In dis
own quaint way: ~ am a corpse and a
cOrpse ought not talk AT his funeral"
But he is not "A corpse IN any sense, and
a good deal IA likely TO happen before he
becomes one. That's all.
JOHN Z. RITTER. JR.
Chronic Coughs and Colds,
And All diseases Of the Ttront ond